19 Facts About Communications satellites

Communications satellites satellite is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Earth.

Communications satellites are used for television, telephone, radio, internet, and military applications.

The purpose of communications satellites is to relay the signal around the curve of the Earth allowing communication between widely separated geographical points.

Passive Communications satellites only reflect the signal coming from the source, toward the direction of the receiver.

Passive satellites were the first communications satellites, but are little used now.

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An immediate antecedent of the geostationary Communications satellites was the Hughes Aircraft Company's Syncom 2, launched on 26 July 1963.

Communications satellites usually have one of three primary types of orbit, while other orbital classifications are used to further specify orbital details.

Low-Earth-orbiting Communications satellites are less expensive to launch into orbit than geostationary Communications satellites and, due to proximity to the ground, do not require as high signal strength .

Group of Communications satellites working in concert is known as a satellite constellation.

MEO Communications satellites are visible for much longer periods of time than LEO Communications satellites, usually between 2 and 8 hours.

In various patterns, these Communications satellites make the trip around earth in anywhere from 2 to 8 hours.

Geostationary Communications satellites must operate above the equator and therefore appear lower on the horizon as the receiver gets farther from the equator.

Therefore, Molniya orbit Communications satellites have been launched, mainly in Russia, to alleviate this problem.

FSS Communications satellites are used to distribute national cable channels to cable television headends.

Direct broadcast Communications satellites generally operate in the upper portion of the microwave Ku band.

Some Communications satellites have been launched that have transponders in the Ka band, such as DirecTV's SPACEWAY-1 satellite, and Anik F2.

Amateur radio operators have access to amateur Communications satellites, which have been designed specifically to carry amateur radio traffic.

Some satellites provide data-forwarding services using the X 25 or similar protocols.

Communications satellites are used for military communications applications, such as Global Command and Control Systems.